Family

Smilacaceae

Genus

Smilax (catbrier, greenbrier, sarsaparilla)

Introduction

Identifying species found in Smilax the genus can be difficult because species resemble one another closely. One must be careful to use detailed descriptions in order to correctly identify a specimen. Smilax species are important because they can provide shelter and food for wildlife and have provided humans with medicine, food, and dyes. Twelve Smilax species are found in Florida. This document covers the nine more common species that one may encounter in the state. These include:

S. auriculata; earleaf greenbrier

S. bona-nox; saw greenbrier

S. glauca; cat greenbrier, wild sarsaparilla

S. laurifolia; laurel greenbrier, bamboo vine

S. pumila; sarsaparilla vine

S. rotundifolia; bullbrier, roundleaf greenbrier

S. smallii; Jackson vine, lanceleaf greenbrier

S. tamnoides; bristly greenbrier, hogbrier

S. walteri; coral greenbrier

Due to the small range and rarity of S. havanensis (listed as threatened by the state of Florida), and the small range of S. ecirrhata and S. lasioneuron (found only in a few counties in the panhandle), we will not include these three species.

The descriptions below list the ranges and habitats in which each species occurs along with their physical characteristics. The descriptions include a summary of distinctive characteristics that may prove helpful in differentiating between species and identifying them correctly. Frequently, leaf shape or color will vary on an individual plant, so it is important to look at more than one leaf or common characteristic to ensure proper identification.

Common Traits of the Smilax Genus

(To assist with terminology, which may be difficult for some readers, we recommend the book, Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, by J. G. Harris and M. W. Harris, which includes both a definition and a picture for all botanical terms mentioned below.)

With the exception of Smilax walteri, which is deciduous, Smilax species in Florida are evergreen to semi-evergreen. Of the 12 species in Florida, only two are herbaceous annuals: S. ecirrhata and S. lasioneuron; all the others develop woody stems. The woody Smilax species are rhizomatous and spread via subterranean runners. They climb using tendrils, and all except for S. pumila are armed with sharp prickles on the stems. New stems grow very quickly and are somewhat succulent, becoming woody with age. Stems are typically green and squared or, in some cases, angled. The leaves are simple and alternate and typically have three or five major veins from the base to the apex. The small, clustered flowers are green, yellow, or brown. The fruit is a small berry 5–10 mm in diameter. Each fruit contains 1–4 reddish seeds.

Flowers: Spring in north, year round in south. Dioecious. Green to yellowish-green, to 5 mm long.

Fruit: Red to black with age, glaucous, shiny to 13 mm in diameter.

Distinguishing characteristics: The lower stems of main shoots are pinkish, purplish, or pinkish-orange in color, unlike those of S. laurifolia. The petioles of S. auriculata are not red like those found on S. laurifolia. The tight revolute margins on mature leaves due to two sets of veins (one cartilaginous) close together sometimes appear as a groove. This is similar to S. laurifolia as its margins are slightly revolute. Site can help differentiate these two species because S. auriculata is common in dry ecosystems with deep sandy soils and S. laurifolia is common in bottomland ecosystems, sometimes with extended periods of inundation.

Figure 1.

Smilax auriculata has revolute margins and the petioles are not red.

Credit:

Lynn Proenza

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 2.

Mature stems of Smilax auriculata are pinkish, purplish, or pinkish-orange in color.

Credit:

Lynn Proenza

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Smilax bona-nox; Saw Greenbrier

Range and habitat: Throughout Florida in many different woodland ecosystems.

Stems: Can grow very high. Sharp prickles at internodes and nodes. Prickles and lower stems of main shoot with small scales (scurfy). Use a hand lens to see scales.

Distinguishing characteristics: The prickles and lower stems of the main shoot are scurfy. No other Smilax species on this fact sheet has that characteristic. The margin of the leaf is thick and prickles are sometimes present. S. tamnoides also bears prickles on the leaves; however, magnification with a hand lens is required to see them. S. rotundifolia margins can also have prickles, but the general leaf shape is round.

Figure 3.

Prickles on the margin and along the midrib on the lower leaf surface are common on Smilax bona-nox.

Credit:

Lynn Proenza

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 4.

The upper leaf surface on Smilax bona-nox is commonly variegated with gray or pale green blotches.

Distinguishing characteristics: The lower leaf surface has a prominent midvein, whereas lateral veins are not as prominent, if at all. The leaves appear to be held vertically. The petioles are reddish in color, whereas S. auriculata petioles are green. Margins are slightly revolute, whereas the margins of S. auriculata are more strongly revolute. Site can also help differentiate these two species because S. auriculata is common in dry ecosystems with deep, sandy soils, and S. laurifolia is common in bottomland ecosystems, sometimes with extended periods of water inundation.

Figure 6.

Smilax laurifolia’s midvein is prominent when compared to the lateral veins.

Distinguishing characteristics: The shaggy pubescence along stems, petioles, and the lower leaf surface sets this species apart from the others. The stems lack prickles and typically trail along the ground. The red berries have a tapered apex, whereas the berries on S. walteri are round.

Figure 7.

Smilax pumila is typically found trailing along the ground.

Credit:

Lynn Proenza

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 8.

The gray, shaggy pubescence found covering the leaf surface, petiole, and stem is the best way to distinguish Smilax pumila from other Smilax species.

Credit:

Lynn Proenza

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 9.

The fruit tapers toward the tip on Smilax pumila and is red when mature.

Credit:

Lynn Proenza

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Smilax rotundifolia; Bullbrier, Roundleaf Greenbrier

Range and habitat: North Florida. Commonly found in mesic woodlands and on edges of wooded lakes and ponds.

Stems: High climbing. Glabrous. Prickles found on internodes only to 8 mm long, brown to reddish tip.

Distinguishing characteristics: Petiole wings are sometimes toothed, whereas S. walteri lacks teeth on the wings. The general leaf shapes of S. rotundifolia are cordate to round, whereas many other Smilax species have varying leaf shapes.

Figure 10.

Smilaxrotundifolia leaves typically have a cordate or rounded appearance.

Fruit: Late spring. Glaucous with reddish to brownish hues to black with age.

Distinguishing characteristics: The thin leaves are predominantly lanceolate and either droop or are held horizontally, unlike S. laurifolia or S. auriculata, which are predominantly held vertically. A submarginal vein does not exist on S. smallii as it does for S. laurifolia and S. auriculata.

Figure 11.

The leaves of Smilaxsmallii are lanceolate.

Credit:

Robert H. Mohlenbrock, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Smilax tamnoides; Bristly Greenbrier, Hogbrier

Range and habitat: North to south-central Florida. Commonly in upland and mesic woodlands but occurs in various ecosystem types. Typically found growing with S. glauca and S. bona-nox.

The bright red berries of Smilaxwalteri are persistent through winter.

Credit:

Craig Huegel, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, plantatlas.usf.edu

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Distinguishing characteristics:Smilax walteri is deciduous, whereas all other Smilax species are evergreen. The bright red berries are persistent through the winter after the leaves have fallen. The berries are round, whereas the berries on S. pumila have a tapered apex.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FOR307, one of a series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2013. Reviewed April 2016. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.